Match-making machine



(No Model.)

I I 8 She'etsSheet 1 A. E. ELLINWOOD. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

Paltente'd Dec. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) s Sfleets-Sheet 2.

A. E. ELLINWOOD.

MATCH MAKING MACHINE. No. 443,623. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) 7 -8 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. E. ELLINWOOD. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No. 443,623. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

Ivwenfor: I Q 45.

(No Model.)

' s Sheets-Sheet 5. A. E. ELLINWOOD. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

7 Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

ig-i s sheets-sheet 6.

(N0 Model.)

A. E. ELLINWOODQ MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No; 443,623. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 A; E. ELLINWOO-D. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No. 443,623. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) s Sheet-Sheet s. A. E. ELLINWOOD. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

il nrrnn STATES FATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS E. ELLINIVOOD, OF AKRON, OHIO.

MATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,623, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed November 29, 1839. Serial No. 331,884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS E. ELLIN- WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Making Machinery, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a machine that gathers the match-splints from a receptacle by means of an inclined elevator-table extending upwardly from the receptacle, and which is provided with a moving elevatorcarrier operated automatically to gather and carry the match-splints from the receptacle and deliver the same in regular order to the main passage-way or mouth of the matchmaking machine, which is provided with a chute 0r passage-way to receive and guide the splints in a single column or layer to an cxpansible separating device, through which the splints continue on their travel and are separated equal distances apart, that they may be properly situated or disposed in relation to each other that the combustible ma terial may be applied to the ends of the splint without liability of contact, and thus sepa rated. The splints continue overfluted rollers, the grooved surface receiving the splint, on which it is held by the pressure of a wire belt, a corresponding wire belt also encircling the cylinder or roller in a groove below the surface of the flute, which contains and firmly holds the match-splint while upon the cylinder, and this wire belt aids in the transfer to the next cylinder or roller and becomes the outer wire to press andhold the splint in the flute upon said cylinder, and thus continuing successively through the machine during the drying process and the final delivery of the completed match from the machine.

In the drawings,Figu1-e1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, which substantially represents my double machine, which I construct for large manufacturers of matches at a much less cost or expense than two single machines, and which are in demand, as they require no additional operative force of attendan ce in the manufacture of matches more than a single machine. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view or side elevation of the expansible splint-separating device in connection with the delivering-carrier, with the chute and passage-way to the separator, and the manner of delivering the match-splint therefrom to the fluted roller. Fig. at is a vertical sectional view of same, showing the gearing actuating the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan View of the elevator-table and its carrier. Fig. 7 is an end sectional view of same. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the carrier-chain and connecting-link. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parafline rollers and reservoir. Fig. 11 is an elevation of same. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the vibratory wax-reservoir and the roller revolving therein, applying the material (here from to the end of the match-splint, and the vibratory arin causing the agitation of the wax. Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of the adjustable friction-clutch that automatically operates the delivery-carrier. Fig. 14: is a sectional end view of a modification of my separating device.

In the drawings, A represents the main frame of the machine, which I construct in sections and bolt the same together.

B represents the match-splint receptacle.

C is the inclined elevator-table.

D is the chute or passage-way.

E and F are the elastic carrier and separating-belts.

G represents the first of the series of the fluted cylinders.

H is the second of the series of fluted cylinders. I

I I are the succeeding cylinders.

J and J are the endless carrying-belts.

K is the paraffine-reservoir.

7t" and k are the paraffine saturating wheels.

k and X are steam-heating pipes.

L is the heating-reservoir.

Z is the wax-reservoir.

Z is the wax-distributing wheel.

Z is its driving-pulley.

Z is its driving-belt.

l" is a pivoted attachment of the vibrating arm 71?.

M isthe match-receiving table.

N is the rotary knife which cuts the splint in two parts.

A is the main driving-pulley.

a is the drivingbelt.

D, D D D D I), D, and D are drivinggcar; (Z (Z d, the hand clutching device.

G is the friction'pulleyjournaled on the shaft.

g is the friction-hub secured fast to the shaft.

is the adjustable spring-nut.

In my invention the elevator-carrier is supported and actuated bytwo rollers, the upper one being somewhat larger than the lower one, the latter being pivoted in an adjustable sliding plate at each end, which is provided with bolts passing through slots in the plates and secured to the base of the elevator-table to admit of the adjusting ortightening of the elevator-carrier. These rollers are provided with endless belts or chains which run in suitable grooves cut in the base of the elevatortable, as shown at d in Fig. 7, the rollers being provided with corresponding grooves and projections therein to form sprocket-teeth which engage with the chains or belts, thus giving positive motion to the elevator-carrier. These chains or belts are provided with bars, as shown at (Z, Fig. 6, connecting the two chains or belts together at intervals of two inches or more apart, the face or upper side of these bars being thus held in fixed position at right angles with the elevator-carrier and its table.

At the base of the elevator-carrier is a receptacle for the loose matclrsplints, the elevator-carrier and its stationary table forming one surface thereof, this receptacle being filled with match-splints which come in contact with the elevator-carrier and the stationary table over which it moves, and are carried up in single layers and delivered over the upper roller to the main machine by being forced down the chute or guide of the passage-way D, extending from the upper carrier-roll to the elastic belts or separating device. The elevator gathering the splints from the receptacle as each bar of the carrier passes through the mass of splints will usually carry forward a single compactlayer, all surplus splints falling back into the receptacle; but sometimes the elevating stream of splints may not be full, and I have provided against irregular supplies to the chute or passage-way, which requires to be filled by the accumulating splints, which are brought in contact therewith and forced therethrough by the elevatorcarrier, by arranging an automatic self-regulating clutch that connects the driving-shaft of the elevator-carrier with its motive power, by means of which the movement of the elevator-carrier is increased as the uniform supply of splints is decreased, in consequence of the carrier not being filled, to force the splints into the chute or passageway, when the increased or accelerated movement of the carrier rapidly regulates or restores the supply,

and the action of the clutch then causes the driving-shaft to move the carrier at its normal rate of speed, which is suitable to the action required therefor by the pressure of the carrier and its moving splints as thus brought in contact with each other and forced into the chute or passageway and toward the separat ing device. The clutch will also yield against any unusual pressure and prevent. breakages. This automatic feed 1 consider important, as it insures a constant regularsupply of splints to the machine and does not admit of anyobstrnction by an oversupply of splints, while on the other hand the increased or accelerated speed of the carrier will keep the supply fully up to the requirements of the machine.

In making the chute or passage-way in connection with the upper roller of the carrier, I place suitable guides D, consisting of strips of steel, the lower strips being slightly curved at the upper ends and resting against the face of the roller 0 at a point which is slightly smaller in diameter than the other part of the roller to allow the ends of the steel strips or guides to pass underneath the match-splint being carried forward on the surface of the roller by the elevated carrier, and thus receive the splint from the roller as it is forced upward by the carrier to the separating device. Corresponding upper guides, formed of similar strips held in position by adj ustablc bearin extendin g upward over the upper elevator and carrier, aid to receive the splint and hold it down in proper position on the lower guide. These guides are placed at a proper position apart to allow the matchsplints to pass between in a solid column and to prevent the splints from passing on top of or over one another. At the lower end of this chute or passage-way is the expansible splint-separating device, as shown in Fig. 3, consisting of four rollers, each roller journaled on independent bearings and of practically equal diameter and provided with expansible carrier-belts, each roller being provided with a spur gearwheel of substantially equal diameter, D D of the wheels near the chute or guide D, which intermesh with each other, the upper gear D being on the shaft at the side of a larger spur-wheel D, which receives its motion from the main pulley-shaft and spurpinion D, actuated by the pulley A while the two lower rollers are provided with similar gear of equal size D D", also intermeshing with each other. The lower rollerf,being provided with a smaller spur-pinion, is actuated by a larger wheel D thereby giving the desired increase of speed to the two lower rollers e and f of Fig. My proportion, as shown in the presentdrawings, is four to one. The object of this arrangement of varied speed is to give to the outer rollers ef' a greater speed than the rollers cf, in order that the elastic carrier-belts E F may be elongated or stretched in their movement away from the chute or passagc-way delivering the splints thereto, that the splints may thus be ICC separated from the solid incoming column as they are conveyed therefrom by the expanding belts, and being thus separated admit of the application of the combustible material and the continued onward movement of the splints in the process of seasoning and drying without contact with each other in passing through the machine. I also provide said elastic carrier or separating device with one or more idle-rollers g g g, located 011 the outer side of the belt and pressing against the separating-belts. This insures the contact ot' the expanding belt with varied sizes 'of splints, thus positively holding the splint and thus carrying the splint forward by the expanding separator as it travels in a line between the receiving and delivery point in the separating device. I have also shown a modification of my separating device in Fig. 14, wherein I employ a single expansible belt E, passing over two rollers and receiving the match-splint from the chute or passage-way and pressing on the splint which is supported on a smooth surface, and thus carries or forces the splint forward and separates the same from contact and delive s the splintin separated condition to the fluted cylinder G and its carrier-belt J. The gearing actuating the expansiblc belt is substantially the same in both devices.

A series of fluted and grooved rollers or cylinders pro ided with two sets of endless belts or cords, one set passing over the under roller f, the other set passing over and around the upper roller 6' of the separating device, as shown in Fig. 3, serve to receive and convey the match-splints from the elastic belts to the first of the series of fluted rollers or cylinders, which is provided with grooves or channels on the face of the cylinder, said grooves or channels being of sufficient depth to receive the endless belt or cord below the surface of the fluted groove perfectly free from contact with the match splint, while the outer belt holds the splint bypressing it down firmly in the flute or grooveupon the face of the cylinder. Said grooves or flutes are of equal space apart and at right angles with the face of the cylinder and serve to positively hold the match-splints and convey them onward as the wheel revolves, and that they may not be liable to become displaced, so that the matches will be kept separate as they pass through the machine in the process of seasoning and drying after the combustible material has been applied to their ends. As the splints are received upon the first fluted cylinder G, a guide-plate adjustabl y secured to the main frame serves to adjust the ends of the splint to proper posirevolves a roller provided with a soft absorbing material which serves to carry the paraffine against the splint, which is supported on the opposite side by a similar prepared smaller roller, and as the ends of the matchsplint pass between these rollers they are saturated with the para'lfinc, and as they move onto another larger similar cylinder below the line of splints are brought in contact with rollers revolving at right angles to the travel of the match-splint, which rollers are partially immersed in a mixture of combustible material, which forms the head of the match. These rollers are actuat d by separate driving-belts and revolve in the reservoir which contains the'combustible material and which is always kept at proper temperature, as it rests upon ways in the healing reservoir L, which is connected with a steam-supply pipe, and is continuously agitated by a reciprocating movement of the reservoir, which movementis imparted by the vibrating arms receiving motion by means of an eccentric h, placed upon the hub of one of the wheels. The journals of each of the cylinders or rollers are provided with proper means of adjustment for the purpose of taking up the wear. Each roller or conveying-cylinder is provided with a sheave or pulley fixed upon the hub of the cylinders I, and this sheave or pulley i is provided with an endless belt J, thus communicating the power to revolve each cylinder and relieving the match-carrying belts of this strain.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a match-making machine, the receiver for the match-splints, the inclined elevator table or surface forming one side of the receptacle and extending upwardly, combined with an elevator-carrier belt at each side thereof, provided with carrier-bars which are at alternate distances apart, and in their passage through the receptacle and over the table carry the match-splints upwardly in regular order and deliver the same to the match-machine.

2. The carrier table C, provided with grooves d d for the passage of the chain beneath its surface, combined with the carrierbar (1, operating substantially as set forth.

3. The automatic carrier, combined with the chute or passage-way supplying the machine with match-splints, and the self-regulating driving-pulley G to secure a constant supply of splints to the machine, operating substantially as set forth and described.

4. In a match-making machine,tl1e receiver for the match-splints and the elevator-carrier, combined with the automatic clutch or driving mechanism to regulate the movements of the carrier, substantially ,as shown and described.

5. In a match-making machine, the receiver for the match-splints and the'elevated carrier, combined with the automatic clutch or driw ing mechanism and the chute or passage-way I), operating substantially as shown and de' scribed.

(i. In combination with the elevator-carrier supplying the machine with match-splints, its driving-pulley G, the friction-clutch g and theadjustable spring and pressure regulating nut g for the purpose of adjusting the pressure or force of the friction-clutch.

7. In a matehanaking machine, the combi nation of the feeding device and the chute or passage-way D, guiding the match-splints to the separating device, which delivers the same to the continuous moving transfer belts orcarriers operat ing in connection with the In atchholding flutesof the cylinders of the main machine.

S. In a match-making machine, the combination of the fluted carrying-cylinders forpositively holding and carrying the splint and preventing its contact with the lower carrying wire or belt which moves in a groove beneath the surface of the cylinder and the match-holding flute.

9. In a match-making machine, the fluted cylinders for positively holding and carrying the splint and preventing its contact while on the cylinder with the lower carrying wire or belt which moves in a groove beneath the surface of the cylinder and the match-holding flute, combined with the outer pressure-wire, said Wires or endless carryiug-belts J and J serving to transfer the splint alternately to the grooves of the successive rollers or cylinders, which causes the onward moving of the splints in positive relations to each other while passing through the machine in the process of drying.

10. In a match-making machine, the splintreceptacle B, the inclined elevator-table C and its automatic carrier, the chute or passsage-way D, the elastic splint-separating device, the fluted cylinders and their endless carrying-belts J and J, the paratfine-reservoir K, its wheels 7.1 1: for saturating the ends of the splint, the Wax-reservoir Z, and its wax-distributing wheels Z Z, IGVOlVil'lg against the ends of the splint during the continuous movement of the match by means of the mechanism operating substantially as shown and described.

ll. In a match-making machine, the combination of the heating-rcservoir L, the vibrating wax-receptacle I, provided with its agitating-arm h its actuating-eceentric h for reciprocating the receptacle and keeping the wax in a pliable condition,and the immersed wax-applying roller, operating substantially as shown and described.

AUGUSTUS E. ELLINWOOD.

\Vitnesses:

WM. ISBELL, F. H. WATERS. 

